GOD’S WONDERFUL PLAN OF SALVATION-Salvation, Atonement, and Redemption (It’s not that complicated!)

GOD’S WONDERFUL PLAN OF SALVATION

Salvation, Atonement, and Redemption (It’s not that complicated!)

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

The Bible is the word of God,
the everlasting Truth. It contains the account of creation, man’s
disobedience to God, and the agony which came upon man because of sin.
It also tells us of God’s love for man in making a plan to redeem him.
It tells of a Savior who was born, who died for man’s sin, and was
raised from death for his [man's] justification. Whosoever believes its
message may have forgiveness of sins, peace of mind, love for all men,
power over sin, and a living hope of eternal life. SALVATION IS GOD’S FREE GIFT TO MAN.

GOD’S WONDERFUL CREATION

Long, long ago there was no
world at all. But God has always been. God, the Creator, is everywhere,
is almighty, and all wise. By His spoken word all things were created in
perfection. God said, “Let the dry land appear,”
and it was so. He created the hills and valleys covered with grass,
beautiful flowers, and trees of every kind. He created the fowl, and the
birds which sing so many different songs. God created all the animals,
great and small, who roam the lands, as well as the small insects and
reptiles that live on and in the ground. He created the lakes and oceans
for the dwelling place of the fish and all water creatures. He made the
continents on which the people of every nation could live. God made the
moon to give light at night, and He decked the sky with thousands of
beautiful, twinkling stars. last of all God formed man from the dust of
the earth. He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and he
became a living soul. God called him Adam.

Seeing that Adam needed a
helper, He caused him to fall into a deep sleep. Then taking a rib from
him, God formed a woman with it, and brought her to Adam. Adam knew that
Eve was bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh, and he loved her. Eve
loved Adam too. They had sweet fellowship with each other. This is
God’s plan for a family unit. God created everything in six days, and on
the seventh day He rested. He looked upon everything that He had made,
and behold, it was very good. So God blessed the seventh day and
sanctified it as a day of rest for man. God wanted Adam and Eve and all
of their descendants to have a day of rest every week, that they might
think and talk about God and all His wonderful creation. This would help
them to love and obey Him.

The Bible also tells us of a
fallen angel called Satan, or the devil. He was cast out of Heaven upon
the earth and he is the source of all evil. Because of him sorrow,
suffering, sickness, and death came into the world.

THE TRAGIC BEGINNING OF SIN

God loved Adam and Eve. He made
a beautiful garden for them to live in. It was called the garden of
Eden. Adam was to take care of it. In this garden were many kinds of
vegetables and fruit trees for them to eat from. There was one tree
called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God told Adam that he
should not eat of this tree, for in the day that he would eat thereof,
he would surely die. One day Satan came to Eve and told her a lie. He
said, “Ye shall not surely die . . . ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”

As she looked upon the tree
with it’s beautiful fruit, she thought it must be good for food, and
eating of it would bring wisdom. So she took some fruit and gave also to
Adam, they both did eat of it. Immediately they felt very strange in
their hearts. They had never felt this way before. They knew now that
they had done something very wrong. They were both ashamed of themselves
as they thought of their disobedience. Fear came into their hearts as
they thought of meeting God. So they hid themselves among the trees of
the garden.

In the cool of the day God called Adam and said, “Where art thou?”
They could not be hid from God, so they came into His presence and
acknowledged their wrongdoing. God caused them to understand what a
great sin it was to disobey His command. He told them that both must be
punished according to their evil deeds. They would now have to suffer
pain and trouble all the days of their lives. They would now have to
work hard for their living. Their bodies would become old and worn out.
They would die and return to dust again.

As they were driven from this beautiful garden, God placed Cherubims
at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword to keep the way
of the tree of life. They began to understand what it meant to sin and
what great sorrow it brings.

THE SAD RESULT OF SINNING

Adam and Eve were very sorry
for their sin of disobeying God. God still loved them, and made them
coats of skins, and clothed them. He gave them the promise of a Savior
who would come some day to bruise the serpent’s head.

The first two sons born to Adam
and Eve were Cain and Abel. They brought an offering unto the Lord.
Cain brought of the fruit of the ground. Abel brought of the firstborn
of his flock. This lamb’s blood was shed, and was a type of the promised
Redeemer who, many years later, came as the lamb of God to take away
the sin of the world (John 1:29).
Jesus died as an innocent lamb on the cross for our sins. Abel’s
sacrifice pleased God, but God was not pleased with Cain nor his
offering.

We must not neglect to do what
God wants us to do. We now have His Spirit and Word which teach us how
to live and what His will is for us.

When Cain noticed that God was
pleased with Abel and with his offering, but not with his, envy and
hatred toward Abel entered his heart. Then one day as they were together
in the field, Cain rose up and killed his brother Abel. God spoke to
Cain and said, “Where is Abel thy brother?” Cain did not like to tell the truth, so he said, “I know not: Am I my brothers keeper?”
Cain had not been obedient in following the Lord’s instructions. God
had warned him before he killed Abel. He told Cain that if he would do
well he would be accepted, but if not, sin was lying at the door. How
much better it would have been had he corrected his attitude and loved
his brother. Now his brother’s blood was calling to God from the ground.
Cain was cast out from the presence of the lord and society. He became a
fugitive and a vagabond in the earth.

GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS SON

“For unto you is born this day… a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).

After Abel was dead and Cain
had gone away from home, Adam and Eve had another son. His name was
Seth. He grew up to be a good man. God blessed his descendants with many
godly leaders, kings, and prophets, who heard and believed God’s
wonderful promises of a Savior who would someday be born. Abraham,
especially, believed God; for which he was called the friend of God. He
was told that through him and his descendants all the families of the
earth would be blessed.

Many hundreds of years later
God fulfilled the promise He had made of sending a Savior to the world.
It happened, in a supernatural way, in the little town of Bethlehem of
Judea. There In a stable, a babe was born to Mary; who was a virgin. She
wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger. (Read Luke 2:1-7). An angel told Mary that the baby’s name was to be called Jesus (meaning Savior).
He was to become a great leader who would teach the people many things
about God. Jesus grew up much like other children. He was loved and
favored by many. At the age of twelve He was wiser in the word of God
than many doctors and lawyers of Jerusalem. He seemed to know all about
the law and prophets. No one could ask Him a question that He could not
answer. He had great interest in the religious activities of His people.
When He was about thirty years old, He took part in religious services.
Once He read an Old Testament prophecy about the coming Messiah. When
He had finished reading, He said to the people, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” He
taught the people as one having authority. He preached that the Kingdom
of God was at hand, and that repentance was necessary for entrance into
the Kingdom. He taught people to worship God in humility and
sincerity–from the heart. He rebuked the proud and unbelieving people of
their sins, and preached the Gospel of love to the poor and needy.

JESUS HAS POWER OVER DEATH Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and life: He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall live” (John 11:25).

Jesus did many miracles,
proving to the people that He was the promised Savior sent from God. He
healed the sick, made the blind to see, caused the deaf to hear, cast
out devils and raised the dead to life. Once He walked on the water and
calmed the stormy sea by His words. His words spoken to a fig tree were
so powerful, that it was found dried up from the roots the next day. At
one time He fed more than five thousand hungry people with five loaves
of bread and two fishes. when all had enough to eat, there remained
twelve baskets full. Fishermen caught large numbers of fish when nets
were cast at His command. One day Jesus met ten lepers who had heard of
His fame. They cried, “Master have mercy on us.” At His command they were cleansed.

Large crowds followed Jesus
daily, whether He was in town, traveling in the roads, or in the hilly
country. The people felt blessed who heard “the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.” Some said, “Never man spake like this man”. Others were amazed and glorified God saying “We never saw it on this fashion.”

He began to tell the people
that He was the Son of God, and that God was His Father. All who
believed His words were made happy. He told those who believed, that
they were children of God. Jesus said to His disciples, ““I
go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there
ye may be also“. (John 14:2-3). (This place in Heaven is for all true Christians).

“Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34).

JESUS DIED FOR OUR SINS

“When they were come to Calvary, there they crucified him” (Luke 23:33).

The scribes and Pharisees were
greatly annoyed at Jesus and His teaching. He had often reproved them
for their honor seeking in religion and unlawful money-making practices.
They were very jealous and envious of Jesus, because so many people
believed in Him, followed Him, and praised Him. They feared that the
people might make Jesus their king.

They tried to make Jesus say or
do things that would cause the people to lose faith in Him, but Jesus
was too wise for them. They were not able to find occasion to accuse
Jesus to the common people. Their hatred and anger grew as Jesus’
popularity continued to increase. Their ill will and hatred toward Jesus
became so great that they made plans to put Him to death.

They took Jesus to court and
charged Him as an evildoer and trouble maker in the community. They
brought many false charges against Jesus. Then they took Him before
Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judaea. Pilate could find no fault
in Him, so Pilate was going to release Jesus and set Him free. But the
accusers of Jesus turned into a mad mob and cried, “Crucify Him, crucify Him.”
When Pilate heard their angry cries and threats, he gave in to their
demands and turned Jesus over to them. They took Jesus and put a crown
of thorns on His head and a rod in His hand. In mockery they called Him
king. They spit in His face and beat Him cruelly. They finally nailed
Him to the cross and left Him there to die.

Jesus was put to death just as
the innocent lamb that Abel offered on an altar hundreds of years
before. Abel had offered his lamb as a type of the lamb of God who would
die for the sin of the world. Many prophets of old had likewise
foretold of Jesus’ suffering and death. John the Baptist said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world”, (John 1:29).“For
God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting
life.” (John 3:16)

JESUS AROSE FROM THE DEAD TO SET US FREE

“He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay” (Matthew 28:6).

The third day after the death
and burial of Jesus, very early, upon the first day of the week, several
women came to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. They were surprised
to find the tomb empty. The body of Jesus was not there. Their hearts
were troubled. Then, suddenly, two angels stood by them in shining
garments. They said, “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here but is risen”. (Luke 24:5,6) Upon
this they quickly went back to tell the disciples what they had seen
and heard. The disciples could not believe their story. So Peter and
John went to investigate for themselves. They, too, found the tomb empty
and as they entered they saw the linen clothes lie, and the napkin that
had been wrapped about Jesus’ head neatly folded as if by gentle hands,
placed separately. When they saw these things they believed the story
of the women. In the evening of the same day the disciples were together
behind closed doors for fear of the Jews. Then Jesus suddenly stood in
the midst of them and said, “Peace be unto you“.
He showed them His pierced hands and side that they might believe. When
they saw the lord they were glad and believed that He was the same
Jesus who had been crucified and that He had risen from the dead. After
this Jesus showed Himself to many people as full proof of His
resurrection.

This bright morning when Jesus
arose from the dead is still the most glorious day in all history. For
on this day, God’s wonderful plan of Salvation was completed. Now all
who receive Jesus into their hearts, even though they die and are
buried, shall resurrect and live forever in Heaven. Jesus said, “Because I live, ye shall live also“(John14:19). This wonderful plan of salvation
is made effective by faith alone, to all who believe that Jesus Christ
is God, in His sin-atoning death, and in His literal, physical
resurrection.

“If thou shalt confess with thy
mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath
raised Him from the dead. thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9).

Dear Reader: Have you enjoyed
reading this absolutely truthful and impressive account of life and
death? God is speaking to your heart. What is your response? Will you
repent and believe the Gospel? If you surrender to God you will receive a
love for righteousness and power over your sin. You will also want to
witness to others of what the Lord has done for you. The Scriptures tell
us in Romans 10:11 that no one who believes in Jesus Christ shall be ashamed.

“Neither is there salvation in
any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men,
whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Do not delay. Come to Jesus today.

The text of this tract is Vlad Petrusevich’s adoption of Leland M. Haines’ writings.

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